Woodhouse's Toad {Bufo Moodhousii) 



Description: Adults have dry skin vvitli small warts, and are gray, brown, or olive-green with 

 paler mottling or spots. A prominent white or yellowish line runs down the center of the 

 back; very young transformed toads typically lack the dorsal line, and the warts are often red- 

 brown in color. It has parallel cranial crests between the eyes and post-orbital crests 

 connecting to them at a right angle behind the eyes: the post-orbital crests typically touch the 

 parotoid glands If a lump-like boss is present on the snout, it does not extend back between 

 the eyes. The pupils are horizontal. The adult has two black tubercles on the hind feet and a 

 body length of 2.5-4". 



Eggs and Tadpoles: Tadpoles are typically jet black. Eggs are laid in long, clear double 

 stings, each egg with a black center. 



Similar species; Western Toad lacks cranial crests. Great Plains Toad has large, white-bordered, 

 dark, dorsal blotches. The Canadian Toad has a lump between the eyes; frequently the 

 parotoid gland is separated from post-orbital crest and post-orbital crest broken or absent. 

 NOTE: It is ver\- difficult to distinguish among the four Montana toad species in recently 

 transformed toadlets. 



Habitat and Habits: Adults are partially terrestrial but often found near water. They are usually 

 found in irrigated agricultural areas and floodplains, versus the upland areas used by Great 

 Plains Toads (Bragg 1940, Timkin and Dunlap 1965, Black 1970). They are most active at 

 night, although they may at times be found out feeding during the day (Hammerson 1982a). 

 They typically breed in permanent lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and slow streams, with a 

 preference for shallow areas with mud bottoms (Black 1970, Hammerson 1982a, Baxter and 

 Stone 1985). Breeding and egg laying is spread out over the spring and early summer. In 

 1998 on the Miles City District, BLM, adults were observed between 28 April and 23 July, 

 tadpoles were observed from 2 June - 24 July. 



Surveying: Adults may easily be found by using their loud calls for identification on warm (>54 

 F) nights; calhng peaks during the first few hours after sunset (Hammerson 1982a). "Road 

 hunting" on warm nights may also be effective. Eggs and tadpoles are seen in ponds and 

 soulghs during the day and can be sampled with a dipnet, however, identification of toad eggs 

 and tadpoles is diflficuh or impossible in the field. 



Status: This species was found on 10 surveys in 5 counties in 1998 (Appendix 2). Woodhouse's 

 Toad is relatively common in eastern Montana east of the island mountain ranges, although 

 status and distribution north of the Missouri River is poorly known. It is the most frequently 

 encountered toad in eastern Montana. The geographic and habitat relationships with other 

 toads in Montana are not well known. Any located should be well documented with a 

 description written at the time indicating how this species was differentiated from other toads 

 present in Montana. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 S4. 



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